The Germantown Academy Alumni Society Board and Office of Institutional Advancement in coordination with Peter McVeigh 1760 launched new alumni programming – the Alumni CSO Group - in 2009. In keeping with the tradition started by McVeigh in 1987, GA alumni now also have opportunities to be involved in community service projects with current GA students on campus, and elsewhere in their own communities – both in the Philadelphia area and in other regions across the country. 

Inaugural Alumni CSO Day Draws Participation from Alumni in Six Cities

By Kim Whittaker Morris '92, Past President, Alumni Society Board

Philly -
Courtney Thomson Robertson '94, Beth Targan Seltzer '97, Sara Beltz '02, Deb Huntzinger Herting '73, Lauren Quaile '97, and Peter McVeigh 1760 worked on a Habitat House in East Norriton.  They spent hours digging and removing dirt, rock, and assorted items from the back porch so that an updated back porch could be added.  It was very physical labor and they did great!!

Washington, DC –
There were four volunteers for the Capital Area Food Bank -- Jessica Toll MacNair '99, her husband, Bruce, Abby Hopkins '97, and Amy Horner ‘93.  Together with another group of volunteers, they  filled 900 bags with food (10 items each) for residents in Maryland.  The food supplements what recipients otherwise receive under government programs.

Seattle –
Missy Martin ’92 volunteered at the Northwest  Harvest sorting and packing food.  She originally had two helpers, but the other volunteers weren’t able to make it.

Chicago –
Kiera Zimmerman ‘90, Kristin Heath ’90 and Joanna Solomon ’03 worked with the Mobile Food Pantry of Mission of Our Lady of Angels sorting and bagging food, and then distributing it to local needy families in Chicago. 

Los Angeles -
Emma Fletcher ’99, Kelly Greenleaf '82, her daughter Caitlyn, and Jonathan Feldheim '00 worked at the LA Works Environmental Education Garden in West Los Angeles pulling weeds, planting flowers and cleaning.

Boston -
Jacqueline Harris Freeman ’92, Annie Connor ’00, Jordan Berger ’00, Norrie Langdon ’54, and Steph Luekel ’96, worked at an Esplanade Clean-up and Flower Planting project at Boston’s historic Esplanade.

april, 2010 - second annual alumni cso day of service

On Saturday, April 10, 2010 fellow Patriots in both Seattle and Philadelphia came out to volunteer at the 2^nd Annual Alumni CSO Day! In Seattle, Missy Martin ’92 worked at the Northwest Harvest Kent Warehouse. In Philadelphia, several alumni came out to either work on a Habitat for Humanity project or for the Wissahickon Watershed "Serve the Preserve" @ Camp Woods Preserve. Both projects were very physical and we heard that everyone did great!

Following the day of service, the Alumni CSO Group hosted an event at Finn McCool’s honoring Peter McVeigh’s 40 years at Germantown Academy. Several of his former students came by to reminisce and celebrate this amazing milestone with him. And we were reminded several times that this was a celebration NOT a retirement! Congratulations Peter and thank you for all that you have done for GA and for CSO!